Maury helped out in Fargo when Mike played for the F.M. RedHawks. Maury was responsible for Mike’s consecutive seasons of stealing 20 or more bags. The RedHawks stadium contains the Maury Wills Museum.
Butch Hobson
(MLB 1975-1982) (Boston Red Sox Manager 1992-1994)
Butch managed Mike when he played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2009. That year, they made it to the championship series, but lost in game 4 in a best out of 5 series. That year Butch was also picked as Manager of the All-Star game when Mike received All-Star MVP for his accomplishments.
Andy Etchebarren
(MLB 1962-1978)
Andy was Mike’s hitting coach during his 2009 season with the Blue Crabs. He was front cover of Sports Illustrated after winning 2 World Series rings with Baltimore!
Brooks Robinson
(MLB 1955-1977)
Winner of 16 gold gloves, a retired jersey, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983, Brooks Robinson has done it all! The list is too long to include everything, but Mike met with him on more than one occasion considering he was the owner of Regency Furniture Stadium, home of Mike’s team, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
Gary Carter
Nicknamed “The Kid”
(MLB 1974-1992) (’80, ’81, ’82 Gold Glove Winner)
Gary Carter’s number went retired with the Montreal Expos. He was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2003. He won a World Series with the Mets in 1986. Carter managed the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League in 2009. The Ducks lost the Division Series to none other than the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
Sparky Lyle
(MLB 1967-1982) (World Series winner in 1977 and 1978)
Sparky became the first player to ever win a Cy Young Award as an American League reliever. Sparky managed the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League, whose team went on to beat the Blue Crabs in the Championship Series in 2009.
Von Hayes
(MLB 1981-1992)
Von set an MLB record in 1990 for 5 walks in a game when he was with the Phillies. Von managed the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League.
Bud Harrelson
(MLB 1965-1980)
Bud won a World Series with the Mets in 1969 and was a Gold Glove winner in 1971. Bud was the Bench Coach for the Long Island Ducks when Mike’s Blue Crabs ousted them for the Division.
Brandon Knight
(MLB 2001-2002, 2008)
Brandon played against Mike and pitched for the Somerset Patriots at the beginning of the ’08 season.
Miguel Tejada
(MLB 1997- Current)
Miguel hit for the cycle in 2001 with the Oakland A’s. When Mike Just was with Houston in 2008, he was called up on numerous occasions to base run at Big League Camp with the entire Houston Astros Big League squad.
Edgardo Alfonzo
(MLB 1995-2006)
“Fonzy” helped the Mets win a Division in 2000. Mike played against him in 2008 when Mike played for the Newark Bears and Fonzy played for the Long Island Ducks.
Pete Rose Jr.
Cracked the MLB in 1997 with Cincinnati. He played against Mike for 2 years in the Atlantic League.
Hunter Pence
(MLB 2007- Current)
Mike ran base running with the Big League squad for Houston in 2008 during Spring Training.
Carl Everett
(MLB 1993-2006)
Mike played against Carl when he was with the Ducks in 2008, and for another season when Carl was with Newark in 2009.
Jay Gibbons
(MLB 2001-2007)
Mike played against Jay for 2 seasons. First when he played for the Ducks in 2008 and Bears in 2009.
Richard Hidalgo
(MLB 1997-2005)
Mike played against Rich when he played for the Ducks in 2008.
Damian Rolls
(MLB 2000-2004)
Mike played against Damian when he played for the Ducks in 2008.
Randall Simon
(MLB 1997-2006)
Mike played with “Chulo Bravo” in 2008 when Mike played 3rd for the Bears and Chulo played 1st.
Bobby Hill
(MLB 2002-2005)
Mike played with Bobby on the Newark Bears in 2008. Bobby played 2nd and Mike played 3rd.
Jose Herrera
(MLB 1995-1996)
Known amongst fellow teammates as “Café” Herrera, Mike was Café’s teammate in 2008 with the Newark Bears and then opponent in 2009 when Café was with the Ducks.
Ruben Mateo
(MLB 1999-2004)
Ruben’s career ended abruptly in the MLB when he fractured his femur lunging for the bag at first base. Ruben was Mike’s teammate with the Bears in 2008 after fully recovering from his injury, but never getting another opportunity in affiliated ball.
Justin Verlander
(MLB 2005-Current)
Justin is most known for his high velocity and no hitter he threw in 2007. Mike played against Justin when he went to college at Liberty University and Justin went to Old Dominion.
David Aardsma
(MLB 2004-Current)
Dave was the closer for Rice when Liberty played Rice in 2003. Liberty lost 5-4 with Aardsma on the mound for Rice. Rice went on to win the National Championship that year!
Jason Phillips
(MLB 2001-2007)
Jason caught for the Camden Riversharks in 2008 when Mike played against him with Newark.
Alberto Castillo
(MLB 1995-2007)
Mike played against Castillo when he was a catcher for Camden alongside Jason Phillips in 2008. He also played against him in 2009 when he was with Newark. Castillo wasn’t known for his hitting but had the best hands of any catcher Mike has ever played with or against. He would make hitters second guess a pitch 3 inches off the plate because of his perfect frame job and lightning quick hands. He literally changed the hitters approach at the plate with two strikes.
Shea Hillenbrand
(MLB 2001-2007)
Mike played against Shea when he was with the York Revolution in 2008 and Mike was with Newark.
Nook Logan
(MLB 2004-2007)
Nook played against Mike in 2008 when he played for the Ducks and Mike played with Newark.
Abe Alvarez
(MLB 2004-2006)
Abe played with Long Island in 2008 and played against Mike’s Newark Bears.
Raul Gonzalez
(MLB 2000-2004)
Raul played with Mike on the Bears in 2008. He played for the Ducks in 2009 against Mike’s Blue Crabs.
Will Cunnane
(MLB 1997-2004)
Will played with Mike on the Newark Bears in 2008 as one of the starters in the rotation.
Al Levine
(MLB 1996-2005)
Al played with Mike in 2008 when he was the closer for the Newark Bears.
Frankie Rodriguez
(MLB 1995-2001)
Frankie was the set up man for Mike’s Bears in 2008.
Doug Brocail
(MLB 1992-Current)
Doug continues to pitch for Houston and pitched a game for the team that Mike was on in Spring Training with Houston in 2008.
Kevin Slowey
(MLB 2007-Current)
Mike faced Kevin in college when Kevin was the ace for Winthrop University.
Ray King
(MLB 1999-2008)
Mike faced Ray in a Spring Training game when Ray was with the Nationals and Mike was with the Astros.
Paul LoDuca
(MLB 1998-2008)
Paul caught Ray King for the Nationals when Mike played against them with Houston in Spring Training.
Randy Tomlin
(MLB 1990-1994)
Randy was the Pitching coach for Liberty University when Mike was there, but they would soon meet again when Randy accepted a Minor League pitching coach position for the Nationals and Mike played against him with the Astros.
Luis Lopez
(MLB 2001-2004)
Luis played against Mike for the two years he was in the Atlantic League. Both years Luis played for the Bridgeport Bluefish. Luis was a part of the 9th inning heroics along with Mike in his All-Star MVP performance when Luis drove in Mike to push their Liberty Division ahead by a run.
Gary Knotts
(MLB 2001-2004)
Gary threw against Mike when he played for the Camden Riversharks in 2009.
Michael Tucker
(MLB 1995-2006)
“Tuck” also played for the USA Olympic team in 1992. Tuck played 1st base alongside Mike at 2nd during the 2009 season with the Blue Crabs.
Dan Reichert
(MLB 1999-2003)
Dan pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2009 facing Mike and the Blue Crabs all season long.
Esteban Yan
(MLB 1996-2006)
Yan pitched for the Bluefish in 2009 facing the Blue Crabs all season.
Felix Rodriguez
(MLB 1995-2006)
Felix pitched as the set up man for the Riversharks in 2008 and 2009. Down by 3 in the 8th, Mike blasted a 3 run homerun off of Felix that left the stadium at Regency Furniture Park. The Blue Crabs lost 6 to 5. Mike had all 5 RBI’s.
Junior Spivey
(MLB 2001-2005)
Junior was the 2nd baseman for the Camden Riversharks in 2009. Mike beat Junior out for the Liberty Division All-Star selection in 2009.
Trey Hodges
(MLB 2002-2003)
Trey pitched for the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2009 and Mike faced him when he pitched against the Blue Crabs.
Ron Flores
(MLB 2005-2007)
Ron was a relief pitcher for the Ducks in the 2009 season pitching against Mike and the Blue Crabs.
John Halama
(MLB 1998-2006)
John was the capstone of the Blue Crabs pitching rotation for the 2009 season. He was a big part in the team’s success in the post season.
Brad Halsey
(MLB 2004-2006)
Brad was a pitcher for the Ducks and pitched against Mike and the Blue Crabs in 2009.
Julio Manon
(MLB 2003, 2006)
Julio pitched for Long Island in ’08 and ’09 facing Mike for 2 seasons in the Atlantic League.
Bill Simas
(MLB 1995-2000)
Bill pitched for the Ducks in 2009 as their closer and faced the Blue Crabs regularly.
Lew Ford
(MLB 2003-2007)
Lew played the outfield for the Ducks and regularly lead off for their squad. He was resigned late in the year back into affiliated ball with the Cincinnati Reds.
Preston Wilson
(MLB 1998-2007)
Preston played for the Ducks in 2009 facing the Blue Crabs all season long.
Ramon Nivar
(MLB 2003-2005)
Nivar played with Mike during the 2008 season with the Newark Bears. He was 2nd to Mike that year in steals for the Bears. He played another year with Newark in 2009 and got resigned by the Dodgers organization at the All-Star break.
Charlton Jimerson
(MLB 2005-2008)
Jimerson played outfield for the Newark Bears in 2009 playing against the Blue Crabs.
Jacque Jones
(MLB 1999-2008)
Jacque played for the Bears in 2009 and was a big part of their offense.
Ken Harvey
(MLB 2001, 2003-2005)
Harvey joined the Blue Crabs mid-season and posted great offensive numbers.
Tike Redman
(MLB 2000-2007)
Tike played for the Bears and had a good year for them in 2009 and got resigned by the Brewers towards the end of the season.
Armando Benitez
(MLB 1994-2008)
Armando played for the Bears in 2009 and faced the Blue Crabs throughout the season as the predominant closer for them. Mike’s turn to shine came in the All-Star game when he got the game winning hit off of Benitez. Later in the 2009 season, Benitez got resigned into affiliated ball with the Astros…the same team who released Mike in 2008 (figure that one out!)
Carlos Almanzar
(MLB 1997-2005)
Newark signed Carlos during the 2009 season and he pitched well for their squad. Mike faced Carlos during the 2009 season when Mike was with the Blue Crabs.
Keith Foulke
(MLB 1997-2008)
In 2004, Foulke dominated the closing job in the MLB and was the one on the mound in the World Series to get the last out to end the “Curse of the Bambino.” Foulke was the set up man for Benitez during the Bears 2009 season and faced Mike and the Blue Crabs regularly.
Ryan Bukvich
(MLB 2002-2008)
Ryan was a reliever for Newark in 2009 facing the Blue Crabs often.
Felix Martinez
(MLB 1997-2001)
Felix played infield for the Bears in 2009 when Mike played with the Blue Crabs.
Bret Prinz
(MLB 2001-2007)
Bret was the closer for the 2009 champs Somerset Patriots.
Jason Standridge
(MLB 2001-2007)
Jason was a starter for the Patriots and was the pitcher who won game 4 against Mike’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2009.
Wayne Franklin
(MLB 2000-2006)
Wayne pitched for the York Revolution in 2008 when Mike played against him with the Newark Bears.
Chris Hoiles
(MLB 1989-1998)
Chris is only one of 12 Big Leaguers to ever hit 2 grand slams in a single game. Chris managed the York revolution for the 2 years that Mike played in the League.
Tippy Martinez
(MLB 1974-1988)
Tippy won a World Series with Baltimore in 1983. He is most known for picking off 3 guys in one inning! Tippy was the pitching coach for the York Revolution the years Mike played in the League.
Tim Raines
(MLB 1979-2002)
Known as the “Rock”, Raines has done a lot in his career. He has broken many records, had his number retired, and even been in movies. He had a stellar career, and as manager, took his 2009 Newark Bears into the play-offs.
Willie Upshaw
(MLB 1978-1988)
Not only a stellar career as a player, Willie is most remembered for coaching first base for the Giants when Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s career homerun record. Willie was the first to congratulate Bonds when he rounded first base.
Mike Torrez
(MLB 1967-1984)
Torrez won a World Series with the A’s in 1977. He was the pitching coach for the Bears in 2009.
Antonio Alfonseca
(MLB 1997-2007)
Most well known for having 12 fingers and 12 toes, Alfonseca closed for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the 2009 season. Mike’s last regular season at bat in 2009 came off Alfonseca when he lined out to center.
Hector Carrasco
(MLB 1994-2007)
Mike faced Hector when he pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the 2009 season.
Mac Suzuki
(MLB 1998-2002)
Mac was the Blue Crabs closer for the play-offs in 2009.
Ramiro Mendoza
(MLB 1996-2005)
Mendoza was the set up man for Rivera and the Yankees. However he is most known for winning 3 World Series rings with the Yankees from 1998-2000 and then winning another World Series ring in 2004 with non-other than the Yankees rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Mendoza pitched for Newark in 2009 when Mike and the Blue Crabs faced him.
Ron Karkovice
(MLB 1986-1997)
Ron is most well known for hitting an inside-the-park Grand Slam! Ron was the hitting coach for the Bears during their 2009 season.
Tony Ferrara
(Bench Coach)
Tony was included on the list because of his affiliation with so many organizations. He was bench coaches for many teams and he even had a good part acting in the movie “The Natural.” He continued to work with teams for whatever needs that deemed necessary for him and landed a job as Bench Coach with the Newark Bears in 2009.
Tom Herr
(MLB 1979-1991)
Tom Herr took over as manager of the Barnstormers when Von Hayes retired during the 2009 season.
Wayne Krenchicki
(MLB 1979-1986)
Wayne was Mike’s first manager in the Atlantic League when he managed the Newark Bears in 2008. He took interest in Mike when he saw him down in Florida at an invite only Phillies try-out in Feb. of 2008. That’s when Mike committed to signing with the Bears to play third base for the 2008 season.
Steve Foucault
(MLB 1973-1978)
“Fook” was the pitching coach for the Bears during Mike’s 2008 season.
Joe Ferguson
(MLB 1970-1983)
Joe managed the Camden Riversharks for the 2 years Mike played in the Atlantic League. Like Von Hayes, Joe set a record in 1978 for having 5 walks in a game. Joe Ferguson told Mike Just that Mike was one of Joe’s favorite players and signed that on the ball for Mike.
Tommy John
(MLB 1963-1989)
If you don’t know who this man is, you are behind on your baseball or injuries! Tommy not only had a lengthy, stellar career, but he also is known for the revolutionary surgery that was named after him. In 1988 and 1989, he was the oldest active player in the Majors. Tommy managed the Bridgeport Bluefish for the 2 years that Mike was in the League.
